Syria abolishes exceptional courts in move towards transitional justice

DAMASCUS

Syria officially abolished its network of exceptional courts and nullified their rulings, Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais announced on Thursday, in what officials describe as a historic step towards transitional justice in the country’s post-Assad era.

Speaking to the state-run SANA news agency, Wais framed the reforms as a decisive shift in Syria’s legal landscape, stressing the government’s commitment to “upholding human rights in the judiciary and applying them in practice.”

The changes aim to align Syria’s justice system with international standards following decades of abuse under the previous regime.

Key measures include expanded prison monitoring, the creation of specialised legal offices tasked with safeguarding detainees’ rights and the complete dissolution of exceptional courts, long criticised for secret proceedings, arbitrary rulings and a lack of due process.

“Advancing a nationwide transitional justice process is essential to guaranteeing equal access to fair trials and restoring public confidence in the judiciary,” Wais said.

The reforms come as Syria marked its first-ever Human Rights Day this week. Wais described the observance as a symbolic milestone, declaring that “the day of great victory marks the beginning of elevating human rights” across the country.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa reinforced the government’s commitment to transitional justice during Monday’s Liberation Day commemorations, marking one year since Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow. “Accountability for past crimes, whether through prosecution or reconciliation, is vital for stability, truth, and preventing future abuses,” he said.

On Wednesday, Damascus hosted its inaugural Human Rights Day ceremony at the Umayyad Palace, held in collaboration with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The event coincided with the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrines fundamental rights for all individuals.

Human rights violations under the Assad regime, including arbitrary detention, systematic torture and widespread enforced disappearances, have been extensively documented by UN investigations and international organisations.

Observers welcomed the abolition of exceptional courts as a significant symbolic and legal step but cautioned that the reforms’ impact will hinge on implementation, transparency and the establishment of robust accountability mechanisms in the months ahead.

“This is an important first step,” said a rights analyst familiar with the changes, “but the real test will be whether these reforms are consistently applied and whether victims see justice, not just rhetoric.”